The Land of Benjamin

The Great Wilderness east of Jerusalem.

Everyone ready for a history lesson? Alright... on Monday we traveled on our fourth field study day and this particular trip highlighted the land of the Tribe of Benjamin and it's political and religious significance. It is located between the tribes of Ephraim and Judah and bordered on the West by the tribe of Dan. Located along the Patriachal Highway (which follows the natural watershed) from South to North the land of Benjamin contains the cities of Jerusalem, Gibeon, Ramah and Bethel. From the watershed to Jericho there are three main passes which were pivotal to controlling the land of Benjamin... Jerusalem to Jericho (the Ascent of Adumim), Ramah to Jericho (the Way of the Wilderness), and Bethel to Jericho (the Taiybe Ridge Route). To the West, the land of Benjamin is connected to Gezer on the Philistine Coast via the city of Gibeon (which is a hill in the middle of the Benjamin Plateau... the most fertile area in the land of Benjamin. Jericho and Gezer are so very important because they connect the rough hill country of Judah to the two main highways (the King's Highway in Transjordan and the Coastal Highway following the Mediteranean). The king who can control Bethel in the north and Jerusalem in the South, along with Jericho in the east and Gezer in the west will naturally become an important player in the greater Middle East and indeed we see this trend in what the Hebrew Bible purports about certain Kings. In 1 Kings 9:15 we read that Solomon fortified Hazor, Meggido and Gezer... and indeed, we have archaeological finds at all three sites which date roughly to the Solomonic time period. Maximalists teach us that these structures are Gates distinct to Solomon while minimalists argue that these date to a later Phoenician period. Nonetheless, here is the 'Solomonic Gate' at Gezer.

Solomonic Gate.

Walking down the Ascent of Adumim in the Wadi Qilt from St. George's Monastery to Jericho. From Herod's palace at Jericho looking up at the formidable wilderness.

Pictures!!

The Garden of Gethsemane

The Church of the Nativity

Herod the Great's tomb which was discovered this past spring

The remains of Herod the Great's Herodium east of Bethlehem

Tel Aviv Beach (Left to Right): Kent (Texas), Theo (Roommate from Wheaton),

Steve (Roommate from Nevada)

Here are a few gems:

The Pools of Bethesda.

The Herodian road directly outside the second temple that

Jesus would have certainly walked upon.

The Pool of Siloam (and Gracie).

Hezekiah's Tunnel

Remains of the Jebusite wall that stood previous to David's capture of the city.

An ancient potty.

The stepped stone structure that more than likely held up the larger public buildings at the north end of the eastern hill. Also, Babylonian arrows and a significant burning layer were found that probably coincide with the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

Part of Hezekiah's outer fortifications against the Assyrian Army under Sennacherib.

The Western Wall (Wailing Wall)

Shalom! (finally)

Hello Friends!

Well... today officially recognizes my twelfth day in Israel and there is so much I wish I could share with you all. I apologize for not updating this blog earlier but I have been so utterly perplexed and overwhelmed with all that has come to pass that, in retrospect, it seems that it would have been impossible for me to post any earlier.

What a city. I have never experienced a city so consumed in conflict. It is a divided city representing the three major monotheistic religions... each of which is unwilling to budge for one another. Every individual that I have come to converse with has been very loving and interested to get to know me and tell their story. It is only when you get any one of these individuals discussing the topic of religion that the real storm brewing beneath comes to surface. Perhaps the most heated topic is (and may always be) the 'temple mount.' You should never refer to the area of the Dome of the Rock as the 'temple mount' when talking to a Muslim. For centuries the Muslims have denied that their holy area is the same area as the 'temple mount.' Yet, every historian, no matter their religious persuasion, has come to the same conclusion that this is indeed the area of the 'temple mount.' Specifically under the area of the al-Aqsa mosque. At this very moment their is digging underway on the 'temple mount' to run new electrical wiring for the mosque. They are tearing up precious archaeological evidence, yet the government is saying nothing for fear of another intifada. It is only the archaeologists and historians that are pulling their hair out in angst. It is a very controversial area indeed. A symbol of the deep divide that runs throughout the region of Jerusalem and greater Israel.

On a lighter note I have made some great new friends.

Left to Right: Autumn (Bethel), Kent (Texas), Chad (Northwestern), Gracie

Left to Right: Benjamin (South Carolina), Jonathan (Illinois)

By the way... the weather in Israel is beautiful! The temperature rises to the mid 90's by the afternoon but it is never humid so the heat is nice. Then at night the temperature falls into the 60's and it is great cool sleeping. There is never a cloud in the sky.

I'll post again soon... I promise. I miss you all and hope you are all enjoying the beautiful Minnesotan fall.

Benjamin (Ben-yah-meen)